[[San Leandro]] is across the bay by using California State Route 61, there are plenty of shorelines and beaches here, as well as malls, hotels and worldwide industries (including Otis Spunkmeyer's and Ghirardelli's worldwide headquarters)

[[San Leandro]] is across the bay by using California State Route 61, there are plenty of shorelines and beaches here, as well as malls, hotels and worldwide industries (including Otis Spunkmeyer's and Ghirardelli's worldwide headquarters)

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[[wts:Category:Alameda]]

[[WikiPedia:Alameda, California]]

[[WikiPedia:Alameda, California]]

[[Dmoz:North_America/United_States/California/Localities/A/Alameda]]

[[Dmoz:North_America/United_States/California/Localities/A/Alameda]]

Revision as of 18:29, 23 December 2012

Alameda is an island in the East Bay of the Bay Area, California. It is right across from Oakland. One can get there from Oakland by use of the island one can get to by use of the bridges or the tunnel.

Contents

Get in

Drive

The area is very accessible from the 23rd street exit off of 880, as well as the Webster/Posey Tube if you are arriving via downtown Oakland.

By ferry

The Alameda-Oakland ferry [1] provides service from San Francisco to Oakland and Alameda. The ferry can be an enjoyable way to travel, given good weather.

By air

Alameda is located very close to Oakland International Airport.

Public transportation

Alameda is served by regular AC Transit [2] routes 20, 21, 31, 51A, O, OX, and W. Supplementary routes 631 and 663 also serve Alameda, as well as special route 314. 12th Street-Oakland City Center, Lake Merritt, and Fruitvale BART stations are also close to Alameda as well as the Oakland-Jack London Square Amtrak station.

Get around

Alameda is an island, and as such it's difficult to get truly lost if you have your basic bearings. The island is bordered on the north by the Oakland estuary and to the south by the San Francisco bay. The west end of the island is taken up by the now closed Alameda Naval Air Station. At the south end, you'll find a bridge to Bay Farm Island.

Major north/south streets:

Webster St.

Grand St.

Park St.

High St.

Major east/west streets:

Lincoln Ave.

Santa Clara Ave.

Central Ave.

Encinal Ave.

Otis Dr.

See

USS Hornet (CV-12), Pier 3, Alameda Point, ☎+1 510 521-8448, [3]. The USS Hornet is a retired World War II aircraft carrier that fought numerous battles in the Pacific and also retrieved the astronauts of Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 after splashdown. The ship is currently run as a museum, with the hangar deck, flight deck, and some other areas open to wander around in, and tours offering the chance to see control rooms, engineering facilities, and other areas of this retired warship.Allow a minimum of three hours; ideally five or more.Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for students.

Pacific Pinball Museum, 1510 Webster St, ☎+1 510 769-1349, [4]. The Pacific Pinball Museum showcases the "science, art, and history" of pinball. With admission, play is free on all but the oldest three of their 90 pinball machines, so allow several hours to explore the many variations there.Admission is $15 for adults, $7.50 for kids under 12.

Do

Crown Beach, (Eighth Street and Otis Drive), [5]. A good beach on the bay. Very popular with kiteboarders.

Pacific Pinball Museum, 1510 Webster St (Santa Clara and Webster), ☎510-769-1349, [6]. Tu-Th 2p-9p, Fr 2p-midnight, Sa 11a-midnight, Su 11a-9p. A 'museum' of over 100 classic pinball games, arranged approximately chronologically. The games are set on free play, so you can play as long as you like with the cost of admission.$15.

Alameda Skatepark, located on the closed Alameda Naval Air Base; great spot to ride skateboards and skates and great views of the bay. Take the #63 bus to get there.

Color Me Mine of Alameda, 2205 South Shore Center (Between Trader Joe's and Applebee's), ☎510.521.8893, [7]. Open Daily. World famous paint-your-own-pottery studio located at Alameda Towne Centre by the beach. Hundreds of preformed ceramics to paint as you wish. No experience necessary. Kids and adults. No reservations needed on most days.

Sushi House, 2375 Shoreline Drive, ☎+1 510 865-0999, [14]. Very good sushi hidden in a mall. Often crowded at dinner.

Ole's Waffle Shop, 1507 Park St., ☎+1 510 522-8108. Old school retro diner. Been around since the '30's--and stayed the same since, good variety of greasy spoon food. Lines for tables are out the door every morning for the waffles and the pancakes. Somewhat similar to Jim's Diner which is right nearby.

Drink

Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge, 1304 Lincoln Ave., ☎+1 510 749-0332. One of the owners is a former bartender of the venerable Trader Vic's so it's not surprising he and his cohorts have opened a bar that comes with all the 1960s-esque island interior fixings--waterfalls and bamboo trimmings.

Lucky 13, 1301 Park St., ☎+1 510 523-2118. Great beers on tap, motorcycle friendly, a jukebox that pumps out good music, and they have a bbq in the back if you want to grill something up.

Lost Weekend Lounge, 2320 Santa Clara Ave., ☎+1 510 523-4700. This is a great neighborhood bar with a solid selection of beer, friendly, zero-attitude bartenders and a good jukebox. Check out their collection of lava lamps above the bar.

Get out

San Leandro is across the bay by using California State Route 61, there are plenty of shorelines and beaches here, as well as malls, hotels and worldwide industries (including Otis Spunkmeyer's and Ghirardelli's worldwide headquarters)